What is breathwork?
Some general principles of breathwork are: make your breathing slower, deeper, quieter, and more regular whenever you think about it; deepen the exhalation phase of breathing by squeezing more air out of the lungs at the end of each breath … and keep your attention on the breath most of the time.
— Andrew Weil
You may be asking, why would I need someone to teach me to breathe, afterall, I’ve been breathing all my life? Yes you have, in fact you take on average about 20, 000 breaths per day! However, many have strayed from optimal breath mechanics over the years. The reasons are many- injury to back or ribs, pregnancy, weight gain, scarring from abdominal or trunk surgeries, childbirth, poor posture and alignment, and stress to name a few. and doing so takes its toll on many areas and systems in the body.
Breathwork is conscious, controlled breathing and can be done for relaxation, meditation, or therapeutic purposes. Although it seems that we are already breathing, why is it an active technique that can help us withdraw from the noise inside our minds, reconnect with our bodies and energies, and experience a new state of consciousness. Pretty cool, huh?
This elevated condition helps to move us closer to where we would like to be, whether that’s recovery, insight, harmony, or an overall feeling of “wholeness,” while simultaneously decreasing our levels of focus on stressors and anxieties.
Exercise Sport Physical Therapy encourages our patients to incorporate breath work into their existing treatment programs, daily rhythms and routines, fitness and sporting activities. To learn more about breath work and its various benefits, and how well you are breathing, contact one of our clinics in Overland Park today!
Why is breath work beneficial?
Right as Rain’s website states a few reasons breath work is so great for you:
- “Deep breathing can help lessen stress and anxiety.
- By breathing slower and more deeply from your stomach, you signal your nervous system to calm down.
- Deep breathing takes practice—it won’t be immediately helpful.
- Trying different breathing patterns, being mindful and having peer support can help improve your deep breathing practice.”
Practicing proper breathing techniques has many benefits. Breathing well not only decreases your levels of stress and anxiety, and it can also help your muscles to relax as well. Breath work calms our bodies and minds, and lowers our levels of worry and fear. Patients find less muscle tension in their neck, back and pelvis when taught to breathe well, as well as much improved sleep quality. .
It’s true that fear can keep us safe, and at times is necessary. However, being in a constant state of fear or worry can cause major health issues, especially with the nervous system. Constant feelings of anxiety can activate our fight-or-flight responses, which in turn produces cortisol, or stress hormones. Knowing how to breathe well can help you calm your nervous system and keep you in an overall more relaxed and steady state which is where you should be most of the time.
There are several breathwork techniques that can produce a calming effect on the body, including:
- Box breathing
- Fire breathing
- Coherent breathing
- Breath of fire
- Belly breathing
- Alternating nostril breathing
An Exercise Sport Physical Therapy therapist can teach you the mechanics of breath work, and how to use your breath to reduce muscle tension, provide stability, help your body prepare, and respond to the various activities, motions, and movements you perform throughout the day, and improve sleep quality at night!
Contact Exercise Sport Physical Therapy for an appointment
Your Exercise Sport Physical Therapy therapist can help you to incorporate breath work into your physical therapy treatment plan. To learn more about the benefits of breath work and how it can serve as a daily practice, put your mind, heart, and body at ease, contact our clinic today or schedule an appointment at Exercise Sport Physical Therapy.